On Monday, May 5, from 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., GreenFaith and Auburn Theological Seminary will offer an interfaith environmental conference at the Interchurch Center at 475 Riverside Drive in Manhattan, at 120th Street.
Nature and Spirit: Motivation and Tools for Religious Environmental Leadership
The conference will include interfaith worship, an interfaith panel on the environment, and breakout sessions on a range of topics. See complete conference schedule below. Registration is $60; contact Auburn Seminary at cjm@auburnsem.org to reserve a space.
On the evening of May 5, GreenFaith and Auburn are also sponsoring a screening of RENEWAL. Admission to the film is free.
The screening will begin at 6:00 p.m. in the Stewart Room at Union Theological Seminary at 121st Street at Broadway in Manhattan. Light refreshments will be provided.
Conference Schedule
10:00 - 10:30 Registration
10:30 - 10:45 Welcome and Introductions
10:45 - 11:45 Sacred Texts and Theological Resources for the Earth
11:45 -12:30 Religious Environmental Education, Eco-spirituality and Liturgy for Creation
12:30 - 1:30 Lunch (provided on-site)
1:30 -3:00 Becoming Better Stewards - Greening Your Facility
3:00 -3:15 Break
3:15 - 4:15 Environmental Justice - Meaning and Methods
4:15 -4:45 Application and Action in your own Setting
4:45 - 5:00 Evaluation and closing
5:00 -6:00 Dinner break (on your own)
6:00 - 8:00 Screening: RENEWAL (light refreshments served)
Sacred Texts and Theological Resources for the Earth - The Rev. Fletcher Harper, Ms. Sarah Sayeed & Rabbi Lawrence Troster will lead this introduction to environmentally significant sacred texts and theological themes from Jewish, Christian & Muslim perspectives.
Religious-Environmental Education, Eco-spirituality, and Liturgy for Creation - The Rev. Fletcher Harper and Rabbi Lawrence Troster will lead this introduction to eco-spirituality retreat work, and suggestions for integrating ecological themes into services of worship. Resources for integrating the environment into religious education programs for adults and teenagers will be explored.
Becoming Better Stewards - Greening your Facility - The Rev. Fletcher Harper will lead this introduction to basic practices for greening the operation of a religious facility, including energy conservation, renewable energy, green cleaning, non-toxic pest management, waste reduction, and green procurement.
Environmental Justice - Meaning and Methods - The Rev. Fletcher Harper will lead this introduction to the realities of environmental racism and injustice and opportunities for engagement in religious communities, including environmental justice tours, legislative advocacy, community organizing, and litigation.